People concerned about healthy alternatives and healthy lifestyle are turning towards practices like using cold-pressed oils. But the use of cold pressed oil has been traced down even to the Indus Valley Civilization. Charred sesame seeds and oil-pressing machines were found in the ruins of Harappa. And after examination, they were dated to be about more than 5000 years old. Indians describe cold oil as ‘Chekku’, ‘Ghani’ and ‘Kolhu’ oils.
Experts suggest that living and consuming food the way our ancestors did is probably the best way to live a healthy life. Locally produced oils and desi ghee were an important part of their diet. Infact, in olden times, a long cylindrical instrument known as ‘ghani’ was used to extract oil from oilseeds. It was a mortar and pestle device made of stone or wood that people used to crush oilseeds.
Even in Sanskrit literature of about 500 BC, there is a specific reference to an oil-press, although it was not described. As early as 1500 BC, mortar and pestle were used to grind and extract juices from vegetable materials. These similar systems were further used to extract juice from sugarcanes for making sugar as well as for extracting oil from seeds. Ghani operation has been noted in Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar, which had cultural ties with India. It was also used to crush sesame seeds in Sudan.
Dietician and nutritionist Shikha Mahajan says, “Traditionally, all ingredients, used by any society, were locally sourced and available. Oils were no exception and were made from seeds like almonds, sesame or mustard and nuts like peanut and coconut. Incidentally, these are oils that need the least amount of processing and are easy to produce.”
“Earlier, oils were extracted from mustard, groundnut or sesame seeds. These were unrefined oils extracted through cold pressing and were, therefore, extremely healthy and suited for Indian cooking,” says hospitality consultant Aslam Gafoor.
Even though Indian Government provides subsidies to support village industries, operations like Ghani are declining in land of its origin.